Day 4 – Do You Really Need A Fairy Tale Christmas?

Welcome to your De-Stress Your Christmas Advent Calendar count-down – day 4! Today we’re looking at how setting your sights too high can lead to stress and not enjoying your Christmas.

Are your expectations secretly cranking up your Christmas Stress?

The television and magazines often portray images of family Christmases where everyone gathers round the tree, singing carols, and the food miraculously appears from the direction of the kitchen, as though prepared by house elves.

And if you run through the virtual book of images in your mind about how you would love Christmas to feel, chances are there are some really strong expectations running. You probably have a really clear idea of how you want Christmas to be.

But it rarely works out that way.

So many things are beyond our control. You can’t force it to snow. You can’t force Uncle Jim to behave the way you want. You can’t force the kids not to fight over the new toy.

How to spot whether you’re falling into this trap?
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Is your Christmas full of ‘shoulds’?

Describe how you want Christmas to be this year and ask yourself:

“Is my Christmas full of ‘shoulds’?”

As soon as you spot a ‘should’, there’s an expectation.

Then: for each ‘should’, is it actually something you can control?

Yes? Great! Then do something positive about it 🙂

If not, you need to let it go. Or you’ll end up feeling stressed, miserable and disappointed.

The key to setting yourself free from this stress is to learn how to accept the things you can’t change.

Yes, if something is unacceptable, you can take constructive action. But if it’s really beyond your control, then you’re more likely to give yourself an ulcer through stress than to be able to change it.

So my invitation to you this Christmas is to tell yourself:

“Everything is ok, even if it goes wrong. And that’s ok.”

Just accept what happens. Change what you can. Let go of what you can’t.

And breathe!

One of the most challenging aspects of Christmas can be our nearest and dearest – and their behaviour is one of the things over which we have least control. Want a solution?
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Really Had Enough Of Annoying People At Christmas?

Click here to read the article and this little-known ‘how to’.

If you’ve had enough of dealing with annoying people, then you’ll love this simple 3-step process to set yourself free.

I was inspired to create it by being on the receiving end of some appalling customer service, but you can apply it to anyone who is getting on your nerves.
I hope it helps!

How To Handle Annoying People Without Losing Your Cool – In Under Sixty Seconds
If you enjoyed this article, then here’s where you can find the rest of your Advent Calendar – and scroll down to register for a free quick reminder, so you catch each instalment – AND a gift copy of my book: 101 Ways To De-Stress Your Christmas.

I would LOVE to hear how you got on with today’s message, via the comments.
What are your secret time-stealers?
And what are you going to do about them?

See you tomorrow with Day 5, when we’ll be looking at whether you’re eating yourself miserable!

With love, Namaste,